@article {370, title = {TWO EUROPEAN RESPONSES TO ASSURE QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION}, journal = {Problems of Education in the 21st Century }, volume = {20}, year = {2010}, month = {April/2010}, type = {Original article}, chapter = {36-43}, abstract = {Looking at the {\textquotedblleft}European Higher Education Area{\textquotedblright} in terms of their different quality assurance systems one can clearly identify a great diversity. This situation reflects the creativity of all countries to establish a system compatible with their own cultural, economic and social background. This article shall highlight examples of two European countries, Germany and the United Kingdom, and their efforts to develop a comprehensive quality assurance system. A systematic and historical approach of these two nations will be based on literature research, scientific studies and personal experience. The article will provide a general perspective on two different national quality assurance systems as well as their current political discussions drawn from an Austrian perspective. The external view but nonetheless European perspective shall maintain a more objective review and assessment of these countries. Although there are diversified quality assurance systems all over Europe, there is a need and a will to cooperate between this diversity while still keeping the individuality of the own country. Thus, I am interested in the development, the challenges as well as problems of these systems and possible ways for improvement.}, keywords = {comparative research, European Higher Education Area, quality assurance}, issn = {1822-7864}, url = {http://oaji.net/articles/2014/457-1400134056.pdf}, author = {Andrea Bernhard} } @article {223, title = {A KNOWLEDGE-BASED SOCIETY NEEDS QUALITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION}, journal = {Problems of Education in the 21st Century }, volume = {12}, year = {2009}, month = {May/2009}, type = {Original article}, chapter = {15-21}, abstract = {The model of a {\textquotedblleft}knowledge-based society{\textquotedblright} represents an ideal towards which the whole world strives. Today{\textquoteright}s society is based on knowledge as the main good, virtue and competitive advantage and higher education plays a crucial role in shaping a knowledge-based society. The purpose of this article is to position higher education within knowledge-based societies and to emphasis the growing importance of higher education. Discussions about the shift from elite to mass higher education will be outlined as well as the concept of {\textquotedblleft}universal higher education{\textquotedblleft}in the 21st century. With this theoretical basis the need of quality assurance in higher education will be stressed in to enhance, improve and even maintain a quality-focused orientation. Higher education institutions are in a time of great tensions {\textendash} they have to react quickly to educational needs of a fast-changing society and to assert one{\textquoteright}s position with other higher education providers. At present as well as for the future the necessity to assure quality for higher education systems to compete in a knowledge-based society at all levels {\textendash} national and global {\textendash} is evident.}, keywords = {higher education, knowledge-based society}, issn = {1822-7864}, url = {http://oaji.net/articles/2014/457-1393266717.pdf}, author = {Andrea Bernhard} } @article {154, title = {AN INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION. THE EXAMPLE OF THE AUSTRIAN ACCREDITATION COUNCIL ({\"O}AR)}, journal = {Problems of Education in the 21st Century }, volume = {8}, year = {2008}, month = {October/2008}, type = {Original article}, chapter = {17-24}, abstract = {The ongoing necessity of quality and quality assurance in the whole Bologna process remains one of the main issues for European policy makers. The aim to create comparable systems to guarantee quality within higher education systems are the reasons for national developments and their eagerness to reform. The situation in Austria is in the centre of discussion and shall exemplify one way to cope with international developments and the need to establish a comprehensive quality assurance system. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a deeper insight into the work and problems of the Austrian Accreditation Council ({\"O}AR), a quality assurance agency which is responsible for re-/accreditation and supervision of Austrian private universities. As the author was a former scientific staff member at the office of the {\"O}AR, the paper looks behind the scenes of higher education policies and will strengthen the insistent demand for further reforms. In spite of the short history the {\"O}AR can be considered as one of the main national key players in the field of quality assurance as well as an internationally accepted quality assurance agency. }, keywords = {accreditation, quality assurance}, issn = {1822-7864}, url = {http://oaji.net/articles/2014/457-1392284112.pdf}, author = {Andrea Bernhard} }